Catherine's story - from trauma to Recovery - 10/12/2025

Hello, my name's Catherine, and I'm on my own personal healing journey. 

My parents were both addicts growing up, and the environment was often unsafe and violent. I ended up being moved across the world when I was 14, so my mother could carry on with her addiction in private (from the rest of the family). My dad had also left at this point. This is where the abuse became a lot worse - I was isolated with my mum in a new country. She was a very violent person when drunk, and for a long time I felt trapped inside her world.

This caused me to struggle for the majority of my teenage years and 20s. I struggled with an eating disorder, self-harm, relationships, and substance abuse, as an attempt to cope with what had happened, which eventually worsened to the point I was on the streets; overdoses, seizures, and sleepless nights became my norm. 

At the time, I didn't know how else to handle the pain from my childhood. I developed PTSD and was plagued with flashbacks constantly, I didn't want to feel or remember anything so I turned to substances to soothe myself, which led to another dark world. At the time, drugs felt like my only escape, being high felt like the only time I could breathe. I didn't want to be here, and in a strange way, drugs kept me alive during that time, even though they tried killing me many times. 

Towards the end, I started wanting more for myself. I no longer wanted to be stuck in the life I was living. I kept thinking, "By hurting myself, I'm only picking up from where my abuser left off". I went to rehab, and by the 3rd attempt, something clicked; I started processing what had happened to me. I firmly believe we need to process what's happened to us, or it will only continue to grow inside us.

I started learning how to love myself, and really believe I was worth more. The more I processed my trauma, the lighter it began to feel. For a long time, it felt too dark and heavy, so I tried to cover it however possible, which only made it worse. I've always been passionate about supporting others on their healing journey, as connection is one of the most important things for us. 

I remember telling myself when I was a lot younger, "I don't want anyone else to go through what I did, at least not alone". When we have lived experience and support someone else, we can say, "I've been where you are, and I promise you there's a way out". The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety, it's connection, and that's exactly what Peer Support offers. 

I'm now working as a Peer Support worker with South Yorkshire Housing Association, and offer support directly to people who are experiencing homelessness in Sheffield as well as being a trauma-informed Counsellor. 

 

Read Kelvin's story and Lee's story of being Peer Support Workers.

 

I support other people on their journey, no matter which stage they're at. I connect with others through lived experience, to instil the message that you can live a life substance-free, a life where pain doesn't direct your next step - whilst offering connection, guidance, and mentorship along the way. In my current role I'm a street outreache worker, meaning I work with people specifically sleeping rough.

It's important to feel seen and heard, without judgment, and I offer exactly that - a space to express yourself authentically. I have started a women's support group, a place where women can come and access support, with a focus on building community, to support wellbeing and healing.

On a Wednesday, I help out with the Recovery Van - a place where people can come for a chat, to receive support, guidance, and information about their overall health.

For me, recovery isn't just giving up the substances and the behaviours, it's a new way of life, it's how we think and see the world, it's how we see ourselves. We are worth so much more than what happened to us. #WeDoRecover

 

As told to Help us Help, December 2025